Six labourers were killed and two were injured after they came under the wheels of a goods train at Jajpur Road station in Odisha on Wednesday.

The labourers were crushed under the wheels of the engineless train that was standing on the tracks at the station but started moving suddenly under the impact of gusty wind and heavy rain that lashed the area on Wednesday afternoon.

The accident took place between 4pm and 5pm. Jajpur district collector Chakravarti Singh Rathore, who rushed to the spot, said: “A goods train without an engine was stationed. The workers were engaged there in railway work. As a Norwester suddenly hit the area, gusty wind and heavy rain began lashing the station. The workers rushed to take shelter under the rakes of the stationary goods train. However, suddenly the goods train started rolling down and the labourers came under its wheels and died.”

Rathore said: “We have already identified the bodies and sent the injured to hospital for treatment.”

According to the media release issued by the East Coast Railway, the injured persons were taken to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, by the railways for their treatment.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his condolence and announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia to the next of kin of the deceased.